Sanitary napkin



M. c. CLARK SANITARY NAPKIN April 2, 1957 Filed Dec 7, 1953 w W m. N .T 4Q ma .A M f. ,d A m SANITARY NAPKIN Myrna Catherine Clark, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,431

6 Claims. (Cl. 12S-290) This invention relates to sanitary napkins. Its general object isV to provide a napkin having a considerably increased absorption capacity, and which is adapted to provide complete and assured protection for the clothing of the wearer, thereby insuring increased confidence against embarrassing accidents.

Specifically, the invention contemplates a napkin including a rectangular central pad adapted to assume the same position as the conventional napkin, and, in addition thereto, a pair of lateral flaps which are adapted to fold downwardly and bear against the opposed inner surfaces of the thighs of the wearer, for arresting any overflow from the central pad, which would normally result in clothing stains.

A specific object of the invention is to provide such a napkin which is so fabricated that the lateral ilaps will readily bend downwardly along straight parallel hinge lines defining the respective sides of the central pad.

Another object is to provide such a pad which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing speciiications and appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sanitary napkin embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the napkin;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the napkin as worn by a user;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention, in an intermediate stage of fabrication; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same after completion.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, my improved sanitary napkin comprises generally a rectangular central pad 5, a pair of lateral flaps 6, 6 formed as extensions of the sides of central pad 5, a pair of ears 7, 7' formed as extensions of the respective ends of central pad 5, and straps S, 8 attached to the respective ears 7, 7'.

Lateral aps 6' are adapted to fold, with reference to central pad 5, along parallel hinges 15, which define the lateral margins of central pad 5. When folded, the aps 6, 6' are adapted to assume downwardly draped posi tions bearing against the inner surfaces 9, 9 of the wear ers thighs, while the central pad 5 assumes the position of a conventional sanitary napkin, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Central pad 5 and flaps 6, 6' are fabricated integrally to include a core body of soft absorbent fibrous material such as absorbent cotton, indicated at 10, an interliner of porous paper 11 surrounding body 10, and an envelope 12 of gauze which is stitched, at 13, around the margin of -the napkin. The core body 10 and paper interliner 11 extend without interruption, into the lateral aps 6 and 6' as shown in Fig. 2, and into the end ears 7, 7. Formed between central pad 5 and ears 7, 7' are transverse hinges 14, 14', the lines of stitching 13 being extended across the ends of central pad 5 and incorporated in hinges 14, 14. This retains the filler body 10 against bulging unduly into end ears 7, 7', and maintains the shape of central pad 5.

nited States Patent O y 2,787,271 Patented Apr. 2, 1957 ICC The margins of lateral aps 6, 6' are convexly curved, as shown, so that the overall marginal shape of the napkin is oval.

Hinges 15, 15' are rformed by steam pressing with relatively sharp-edged pressing tools along the lateral margins of pad 5. For example, the napkin may be passed between opposed pairs of heated disc rollers after having been steamed, with the rollers compressing the material of the pad between them along the lines of hinges 15, 15'. This leaves the napkin with straight-line indentations or grooves 16, 16 defining the side margins of central pad 5, with the hinges 15, 15 constituting very narrow areas, extending the tull length of the pad, of compacted material.

Straps 8, 8 may be fabricated from gauze folded or rolled several times upon itself to provide a four ply structure having adequate strength to secure the napkin in place. The ends of straps 8, 8 are sewn to the hinges 14, 14' by the lines of stitching extending therealong.

The straps 8, 8' are attached `to a sanitary belt in a con ventional manner in order to support the pad in its operative position.

When the napkin is worn, any overflow from central pad 5 will be absorbed by lateral flaps 6, 6', protecting the clothing against being soiled and giving ythe wearer increased confidence in avoiding embarrassing occurrences.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pad is of laminated structure, comprising an upper layer 20 of relatively high absorbency and lightly cornpressed; and a lower layer 21 of less absorbency and higher density. Both layers may be of a tibrous nature such as cotton batting, but layer 21 is more highly compressed than layer 20, and thus acquires its higher density. As 'the result of this characteristic, the underlayer 2l has a better ability to hold its shape and also to prevent moisture from seeping through the same, while the upper layer is highly absorbent and relatively soft against the skin of the wearer.

Lower layer 21 may be further stiffened by having there in one or more sheets 22 of woven fabric. The two layers may be compressed independently and then fitted together and again compressed suiciently to cause them to adhere; or they may be lightly stitched together.

Fig. 5 illustrates the two layers 20 and 21 before they have been compressed, but applied in face to face rela- Ition preparatory to being compressed to the thickness indicated in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the layers 20 and 21 are preferably compressed individually so that the diierent degree of compression therein may be attained, and they may then be subjected to some lfurther compression after having been applied face to face, in order to cause them to adhere one to another. They may then be enclosed in a cover 12 which is shown in Fig. 6 but not in Fig. 5. It will also be understood that the pad of Fig. 6 may have the side flaps 6a as well as the central pad 5a, as in the main form of the invention; or alternatively, in some instances the side flaps 6a may be eliminated.

I claim:

l. A sanitary napkin comprising a relative long, narrow rectangular central pad; a pair of lateral flaps integrally joined to said central pad; hinges joining said lateral tiaps to said central pad along parallel lateral margins thereof, said hinges consisting in compresse-d areas of the material of the napkin extending full length of said lateral margins; and straps at the respective ends of the pad for attaching the same to a sanitary belt.

2. In a sanitary napkin, a relatively long, narrow, rectangular central pad and a pair of side flaps integrally joined thereto, said central pad land side aps being integrally formed to include a central body of absorbent fibrous material, an inter-liner of porous paper surrounding said central body and an envelope of gauze enclosing said interliner and central body, 'all extending integrally throughout the width of said central pad and into said lateral flaps, said napkin including hinges along ,parallel lateral margins of the pad, joining the central padl to the lateral flaps and consisting in compressed areas of said librous body, inter-liner and envelope. t

3. in a sanitary napkin, a relatively long, narrow, rectangular central pad and a pair of side flaps each including a core of absorbent fibrous material, an inter-'liner of porous paper surrounding said core and an envelope of gauze enclosing said interliner and core, said envelope being stitched to said inter-liner around the margins of the napkin, said napkin including hinges extending 'along the side margins of said central pad and joining the same to said lateral flaps, said hinges consisting 'in compressed areas of said envelope, inter-liner and core extendingfull length of the side margins of said central pad and having very slight width.

4. A sanitary napkin as defined in claim 2, wherein said central pad and side flaps embody separate layers including an upper layer of loosely packed fibrous material of highly absorbent character and an under layer of more densely packed fibrous material, more resistent than said upper layer to the downward seepage therethrough, and more form retaining than said upper layer.

5 A sanitary napkin as defined in claim 2, wherein said central pad and side iiaps embody separate layers including an upper layer of loosely packed brous material of highly absorbent character and van under layer of more densely packed fibrous material, more resistent than said upper layer to the downward seepage therethrough, and more form retaining than said upper layer; said lower layer further including therein parallel sheets of gauze embedded in the iibrous material thereof and reinforcing the same.

6. ln a sanitary napkin, a relatively long, narrow, rectangular central pad and a pair of side flaps integrally joined thereto, said central pad and side flaps being integrally formed to include a central body of absorbent fibrous material, and an envelope of gauze enclosing said central body, both 4extending integrally throughout the width ot said central pad and int-o said lateral liaps, said napkin including hinges along parallel lateral margins ol the pad, joining the central pad to the lateral ilaps and consisting in compressed areas or" said fibrous body and envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 462,974 Allen Nov. l0, 1891 1,022,894 Sprague Apr. 9, 1912 1,882,309 Williams Oct. 11, 1932 2,076,526 Brown Apr. 13, 1937 2,295,016 Scribner Sept. 8, 1942 

